People play on slot machines at the Main Street Station hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) Follow Chase Stevens on Twitter @csstevensphoto

Boyd Gaming Corp. has upgraded and relaunched its B Connected loyalty club program.

The Las Vegas-based company announced Monday that the program is available at the company’s recently acquired Aliante Hotel and Cannery properties in Las Vegas and at other Boyd casinos nationwide.

Matt Ryan, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Boyd Gaming, said the program has new rewards, discounts and benefits for cardholders, and customers can exchange their cards for new ones that are split into five tiers, depending on a player’s level of spending.

The new tiers and the number of points needed to reach them: Ruby (0-749), Sapphire (750-14,999), Emerald (15,000-49,999), Onyx (50,000-199,999) and Titanium (200,000 and above). Points are awarded for play at slot machines, table games, poker, the race and sports books and bingo. Points can be redeemed for free play or discounts on retail purchases.

Awards, which are offered based on the player’s tier, include quarterly stays at Boyd properties, annual Holland America Line cruises, annual trips to Hawaii with airfare credits, and other benefits at Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas.

Cardholders also can receive discounts with program partners, including Advantage Rent a Car, and access to annual Boyd Gaming promotions and contests, like Pick the Pros and Trees of Hope.

A player can receive benefits for a calendar year once a higher level of play is achieved, but all points expire on Dec. 31 each year and players must then rebuild their level of play.

Operators of the Pinball Hall of Fame have been approved to build a new, larger arcade near the south edge of the Strip on Las Vegas Boulevard near Russel Road. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

National Hardware Show underway Las Vegas

The National Hardware Show kicked off Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center (Mat Luschek / Review-Journal)

Caesars for sale?

Caesars Entertainment Corp. has been swept up in takeover speculation since the company’s share price tumbled last year amid disappointing earnings and concerns over a recession. Amid the decline, hedge funds scooped up shares. Billionaire activist investor Carl Icahn began buying shares of Caesars as early as January. Icahn acquired nearly 18 percent by mid-March. In February Icahn called on the Caesars board to study a sale as a way to boost shareholder value.

Las Vegas home prices

Las Vegas home prices grew fastest among major markets in February for the ninth straight month. But amid affordability concerns, the growth rate has slowed down. Southern Nevada prices in February were up 9.7% from a year earlier, according to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index. The last time Las Vegas' price growth fell below 10% was in September 2017, S&P Dow Jones Indices reported.

Free Parking Coming To Wynn

Free parking will come to the Wynn and Encore resorts on May 1, 2019. (Mat Luschek / Review-Journal)

Founding Venetian employees talk about 20 years at the Strip resort

The Venetian, which opened May 3, 1999, is celebrating 20 years on the Las Vegas Strip. Seven original employees talk about opening the luxury resort and working there for two decades. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Circa aiming for December 2020 opening

The 1.25-million-square-foot property will have 44-stories and 777-rooms. It will also have a separate nine-story, 1,201-space parking garage.

Boxabl official explains the building concept

Boxabl business development manager Galiano Tiramani shows off a room built by his company. (Blake Apgar/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

TI/Mirage Tram reopens

The tram that shuttles guests between TI and Mirage reopened this week after being closed for much of 2018.

Las Vegas Convention Center expansion taking shape

Renderings and actual footage show how the Las Vegas Convention Center is evolving.

Japan’s NHK Science & Technology Research Laboratories booth featured a 1mm thick 8K TV system used in conjunction with a 22.2 channel digital sound system at the National Association of Broadcasters Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Business reporter Rick Velotta gives an update on the adjudicatory hearing on the suitability of Wynn Resorts to retain its gaming license in Massachusetts.

Henderson app developer part of Startup in Residence

Henderson based developers of the app On Point Barricade are taking part in Startup in Residence, a North America program dedicated to pairing tech companies with governments. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Sam's Town employees and customers talk of their love for the iconic casino

Longtime Sam's Town employees and customers love each other and love their casino. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

Las Vegas apartments rents

Las Vegas’ apartment market has accelerated in recent years. Developers are packing the suburbs with projects, landlords are on a buying spree, and tenants have filled buildings.

William Boyd talks about the birth of Sam's Town

On the eve of the 40th anniversary of Sam's Town, William Boyd, executive chairman of Boyd Gaming and son of hotel namesake Sam Boyd, talks about how the casino became one of the first local properties in Las Vegas. (K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhoto

There are no data showing a relationship between Strip resort and parking fees and the number of out-of-state visitors to Las Vegas. But there are data showing a relationship between Strip parking fees and the number of local visitors to the the Strip. ‘’As a local, I find myself picking hotels I visit for dinner or entertainment, based on whether they charge for parking or not,”’ said David Perisset, the owner of Exotics Racing. ‘’It is not a matter of money, more of principle.’’
A 2018 survey by the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance found 36.9 percent of Clark County residents reported avoiding parking at Strip casinos that charge for parking. 29.1 percent reported avoiding using any services from a Strip casino that charges for parking.

MGM's sports betting deals

MGM Resorts International signed a sports betting sponsorship agreement with the NBA in July It was the first professional sports league to have official ties with a legal sports betting house. The deal came just two months after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a law prohibiting sports betting in most states. In October, MGM became the first gaming company to sign a sports betting partnership with the NHL. In November, MGM became the first gaming company to sign a sports betting partnership with the MLB. Financial terms of Tuesday’s deal and earlier partnerships have not been announced.

Faraday puts Las Vegas land on the market

Nearly two years after Faraday Future bailed on its North Las Vegas auto factory, the company has put its land up for sale. (Michael Quine/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority announced the recommendation for an underground people mover for the convention center. The system would have the potential to expand and connect Downtown and the resort corridor all the way to McCarran. (Michael Quine/ Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Advancing technology in slot machines is paving the way for a better, more immersive experience for players — one that draws a wider variety of demographics, and keeps them in their seat at the slots longer, industry insiders say.